CICW has awarded Vital 91ÁÔÆæ, Vital Preaching Grants for over 20 years to teacher-scholars and worshiping communities in 45+ states and provinces and across 40+ denominations and traditions—including Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, non-denominational, and other Protestant communities.


While worship styles and practices vary greatly across these traditions, the grant projects typically explore at least one of CICW’s ten core convictions related to worship. Explore the hundreds of projects we’ve funded across both streams of the program.

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91ÁÔÆæ Practices
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Teacher-Scholar 91ÁÔÆæ Practices

College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University

Anna Mercedes

To build the capacity of worshiping communities to be formed as peacemakers and to move through conflict transformatively through the development of restorative justice practices for use in worship.

Teacher-Scholar
Collegeville, minnesota
2025
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91ÁÔÆæing Communities Accessibility 91ÁÔÆæ Practices

Redeemed Christian Church of God Strong Tower Parish

To support the worship of people with dementia and varied disabilities by collaborating with neighboring churches to host workshops that encourage and develop accessible, sensory-friendly worship practices. 

91ÁÔÆæing Communities
Minneapolis, minnesota
2025
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Teacher-Scholar Technology 91ÁÔÆæ Practices

Abilene Christian University

Brad East

To deepen Christian discernment about the impact of digital technology on Christian worship through the study of both challenges and opportunities presented to churches, pastoral ministry, and public worship by new digital mediums.

Teacher-Scholar
Abilene, texas
2024
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Teacher-Scholar 91ÁÔÆæ Practices

Baylor University

Melody Escobar

To explore worship practices that foster belonging among marginalized populations through an ethnographic study of an interdenominational church that worships under a highway overpass.

Teacher-Scholar
Waco, texas
2024
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Teacher-Scholar Historical Liturgy

Candler School of Theology

Antonio E. Alonso

To spark deeper conversations about the significance of the materiality of lived Christian practice through theological reflection on the reception of Vatican II liturgical reforms in Asian, Latine, and Black Catholic contexts.

Teacher-Scholar
Atlanta, georgia
2024
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Teacher-Scholar 91ÁÔÆæ Practices

Samford University

Jonathan Rodgers

To examine post-COVID worship in the Southern Baptist Church through interviews and surveys to gain an understanding of how worship has been and is being reconfigured.

Teacher-Scholar
Birmingham, alabama
2024
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Teacher-Scholar Trauma/Mental Health Visual Arts

Dallas International University (2023)

Beth Argot & Kayleen Bobbitt

To conduct fieldwork exploring the use of pilgrimage, movement, and the arts in worship as means of healing trauma and encouraging spiritual integration (knowing God with both our heads and our hearts).

Teacher-Scholar
Dallas, texas
2023
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